"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of Netflix and off various columns highlighting new movies as well.

The world has come to its near end as a virus that combines
the genes of plants, animals and humans is released on the population. As
humans mutate, a zombie-like effect is caused and few people are able to
survive. One man attempts to be one of the rare ones, hoping to find other
survivors immune to the illness.

There were parts of this movie that weren’t bad. The actors
were horrible and the script was a little redundant at times, but there were
some interesting takes on the general “zombie” idea. Essentially, this was
indeed a zombie movie, though they took the origin in a completely different direction
than I’ve seen in the past. However much I wanted to enjoy that unique look on
my favorite popular topic, it was difficult to see this movie as anything but
lame.

True, there was some amazing creativity in the background,
if not the actual plot, but I couldn’t force myself to care. I found myself
relating to none of the characters. It might as well have been a dry
documentary with a monotone voice over about people that are never fully
explained. When you can’t connect enough to characters to care if they live or
die, what’s the point of the movie?

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 2.9/5

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 67%

Trust-the-Dice Score – 2/5

P.S. Although Netflix lists the name of this movie as simply
“Extinction,” it has come to my attention that its actual title is: “Extinction:
The G.M.O. Chronicles”.

During a time of economic collapse in Japan, school students
have gone rogue. There are stabbings, classes frequently cut school in unison,
teenagers are rude and disrespectful. As a way of trying to regain control, the
Japanese government issues the Battle Royale Law. The law states that one class
should be chosen randomly to be transported to a deserted island where they
will be forced to fight to the death until there is only one survivor.

Since I became obsessed with the “Hunger Games” (yes,
obsessed is the right word), a lot of people have been telling me to watch “Battle
Royale”. This move predated the aforementioned story by about eight years, and they
seem to be analogous. At the core, the fighting to the death mixed with love
stories is essentially the same. However, the actual details and flow of
storyline are vastly different, making the two stories comparable – but not as
similar as you would expect.

“Battle Royale” was much more gruesome than I thought it
would be and many of the kills were unnecessarily over the top. That was my
only issue with it, though. The actors were amazing, and the effects were
alright despite some slight continuity errors. I was also fond of the look into
the psychology in play – it was interesting to see the differences between fight
and flight.

I enjoyed the movie immensely, and I’m looking forward to
when I get to see “Battle Royale II”.

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 3.8/5

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 86%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 89%

Trust-the-Dice Score – 4.5/5

The Random Rating:
R – Strong Violence

P.S. Based on a Novel of the same name by Koushun Takami.
(The manga was developed after the original novel.)

Two college students, Stephen and Quaid, bond over a
cigarette after class. After hanging out, they decide to work together with
another classmate, Cheryl; using a fear study for their joint thesis. As they
interview people about their deepest fears, they begin to see each other’s own
dark pasts.

This film was harrowing. Not immediately, but sometime
around the middle, “Dread” truly began living up to its name. I have some
theories as to why I found this film so terrifying and heart-stopping, but they’re
just theories. I’ve watched torture porns of all shapes and sizes without
blinking an eye. Hell, I’ve done some consulting work at a morgue. However,
when this movie finally reached its climax, I found it almost difficult to
watch. Not because it was bad, but because the fear it instilled in me was
something I haven’t felt, while watching a movie, since I was a little girl.

A lot of horror movies rely on shock factor and gore in
order to elicit emotions from viewers. “Dread” does have gore, and there’s a
minor amount of shock, but for the most part you’re told exactly what’s going
to happen. In this instance, it doesn’t cheapen the story. In fact, knowing
what’s coming makes it even more difficult to handle.

For little known actors, I though the main characters were
amazing. Shaun Evans is creepy. He’s supposed to be creepy in the film, and he
pulls it off well. More than once he made me shiver a little.

“Dread” wasn’t what I expected it to be. The blurb Netflix
offered really didn’t do it justice. I’m glad that I got to see it before it
expires on 3/1/14.

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 3.6/5

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 45%

Trust-the-Dice Score –
3.5/5

Movie Trailer: I
posted the trailer because I always do, but I recommend it not be watched first.
Apparently some editors have decided that spoilers are the best way to make
people see a movie.